Printable View
When I did cavern and intro a couple years ago I ended up driving home to Houston with a middle ear infection in one ear an outer ear infection in the other. Over four days we did 17 dives at Ginnie, Devil's and Manatee... But now I know about the ear beer and have not had any problems on subsequent trips.
I think Celia has correctly identified the problem here. A forceful valsalva can be responsible for middle ear infections by forcing water borne bacteria into the eustachain tubes and thereby providing a prime/cozy site for those bacteria to grow.Quote:
Originally Posted by amphipod06
I am not a physician and have never played one on TV. I am just passing along what physicians have told me.
Many animals {including humans} use our spring basins as toilets & as a consequence horrendous amounts of fecal matter & bacteria are suspended in the basins, which become even more contaminated during the summer months. Both Gators & Turtles, along with River Otters, Beaver & Water Fowl love to cool off & go potty in our favorite spring pools. In essence it is their bactaria & resulting infectious viruses that we pick up while swimming or returning from deep within some of the cave systems, where we deco or exit into the spring pools. Sludge {Russell} turned me onto his 'Ear-Beer' potion last year, & I haven't had any ear infections since I've been using his receipe. Perhaps if he would be so kind as to re-post it again for everyone, all of us will stay healthy during the summer dive season-!
Jack 8)
Hahaha, Jim, that's funny, I did play "doctor" over the phone line while at DAN, I don't think we tracked middle ear related calls specifically but a large number of the monthly totals involved ear problems and issues.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Wyatt
An excellent reference for ear physiology is a little green book by Noel Roydhouse: Underwater Ear & Nose Care from Best Publishing Company, goes for $25 or so. Well worth the $$ and the read, it explains why your ears hurt and when to seek medical attention pronto, as well as case studies.
Dive safe and don't drink the water...
Celia
Here is a very good article that my friend Ed published in Alert Diver (years before he passed away), yes it's a plug for DAN too.
In any case you will find the article and Ed's US Navy "home brew" ear solution great information and handy to have at the dive site.
Go ahead, read it and impress your friends with the newly acquired knowledge.
Diving Medicine Articles
Can You Prevent Otitis Externa, or Swimmers Ear?
The Answer is in the Solution
By Edward Thalmann, M.D., DAN Associate Medical Director
https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/m...p?articleid=48
Dive save,
Celia
I've had my share of ear infections since I started diving, always fresh water related. I use (when I remember to bring it) a 50/50 mixture of rubbing alcohol and distilled vinegar as a preventitive before and after diving. And also repeat it once or twice later that same day.
Supposedly the alcohol is to help dry the ear, and the vinegar is to lower the Ph making it unfriendly to bacterial growth.
Also in the past, a vigorous gargle/snort with a warm very saline saltwater water mix has seemed to help after the fact. Just don't swallow it.
I think Celia is right. Often people have scratchy throats and sinus problems when they travel. Florida inspires that! Do a forcefull valsalva and there you have it, bugs in the tubes of your ears. I take a non-decongestant type antihystamine at least for a couple of days before I dive. Also drinking more water works well because dry scuba air will dry you out and make things worse. Coke makes you more dehydrated by the way, not less.
I have had two ear barotrauma "events". I knew it had happened before I hit the surface. Both times I felt very dizzy at the end of the dive and stone cold deaf in the affected ear when the ear filled with blood. Another reason for the antihystamines. :D
I dove both Madison and Peacock today. Used the earbeer at Madison and plum forgot to do it after Peacock. I'm going to douse my ears right now! Madison was great today, great vis. Also met Daedalus and his buddie at Madison although we didn't formerly meet only talked a bit.
Yeah, I got a nasty infection after diving at Ginnie for about three days. The little slough from Little Devil to Devil's Eye looked like it was full of the stuff JE was just talking about. Namely, fish poop.
As I was swimming back and forth through that channel it dawned on me that the water looked a little doodoolicious. The next morning I was in alot of pain in both outer ears and the pain lasted for about 1 week before I could dive again.
Ear beer is now a mandatory item when I go cave diving. As for middle ear infections, I don't know what would cause that but it seems logical about it being caused by an overly forceful valsalva. That is something to remember.
.
.
I've gotten a couple of infections from diving Peacock & OG... Never had a problem anywhere else.
FYI, I used to use equal parts white vinegar, 91% alcohol and peroxide and then a doc told me that peroxide is very bad for the inner ear workings. I changed to 50/50 vinegar and alcohol after that. Both seem to work fine though.
Rick